Pet Itchiness - Allergies? My pet is very itchy. Could he be allergic to his food? There are many causes of pruritis (itchiness) in pets.  Fleas and flea allergies are the number one cause of itching in our pets.  Food allergies are also common.  A pet can become allergic to almost anything in their food.  Common allergens include beef, pork, poultry, fish, corn products, soy products and wheat. It is important to realize pets can develop allergies to their food at any time.  They could develop an allergy to food recently introduced or to the food they've eaten for years.   But, if you have a history of recently switching foods or introducing a new treat I would suspect food allergies.  I ususally recommend switching back to the original diet the pet did well on and monitoring it closely.  If you haven't switched foods recently then I recommend trying a "hypo-allergenic" diet.  This is a food that has a protein source the pet has never eaten before and therefore should not be allergic.   Hypoallergenic diets are usually prescription foods and are found at your Veterinarian.  They usually contain protein sources such as venison, duck, or rabbit.  It is recommended you feed this food only (no treats, table scraps, etc.) for 6-12 weeks before deciding effectiveness. It is important to realize there are many reasons why a pet is itchy. Give your Veterinarian a call to determine if a hypoallergenic diet is appropriate for your pets' symptoms. -Dr. Sue Marshall, Feline Medical Center, Inc.